7 WEAC members earn new National Board Certification

December 13, 2016

Seven WEAC members have just joined the ranks of those holding National Board Certification, considered the gold standard in teacher certification. Another 75 Wisconsin educators renewed their national certification this year.

Wisconsin now has 945 active National Board Certified Teachers and is ranked 20th in the nation for the number of teachers who hold the national credential.

“WEAC congratulates these outstanding educators who have committed themselves to making sure they are the absolute best they can be,” said WEAC President Ron Martin. “WEAC is extremely proud to play a role in helping educators achieve this tremendous honor.”

The WEAC members earning certification for the first time are:

Natalie Buhl, West De Pere School District, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

“I commend our board certified Wisconsin teachers for their dedication to their profession and their students,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “Achieving or renewing national certification is a demanding process that requires teachers to demonstrate their subject matter knowledge, instructional excellence, and commitment to the profession.”

National Board Certification is open to all educators who have a baccalaureate degree and three years of classroom experience in either a public or private school. WEAC provides extensive support for members who pursue National Board Certification.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standard’s founding mission is to advance the quality of teaching and learning through rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, a national voluntary system for certifying teachers who meet those standards, and related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Wisconsin has a number of educators who have achieved national certification who offer their support to others who are working toward the credential.

Wisconsin is among approximately two-thirds of states that provide salary incentives and cover some costs to achieve the advanced credential. Those who teach in state schools can receive up to $2,000 to reimburse the cost of earning National Board Certification. Among requirements to receive nine annual stipends of $2,500, teachers must remain employed as Wisconsin educators and be rated “effective” or “highly effective” in the applicable educator effectiveness system. Wisconsin teachers who work in high-need, high-poverty schools in the state can receive an additional $2,500 annually. In addition, teachers with a Wisconsin Professional Educator License can qualify for the Wisconsin Master Educator License after earning NBCT certification.